#978, William KESWICK

William was the founder of the Keswick dynasty, of Scottish origin but which operated in the Far East.  William's grandmother was Jean Jardine Johnstone a sister of Dr William Jardine, the founder of Jardine Matheson & Company.  His father, Thomas had married Margaret Johnstone, Jardine's niece and daughter of Jean.  He entered the Jardine business.  The company operated as opium traders and had a major influence in the First and Second Opium Wars but stopped this trading in 1870 to pursue a broad range of other trading interests including shipping, railways, textiles and property development.  It was the start of a five-generation association between the Keswick family and the Jardines.

He spent three spells on the Legislative and Executive Councils of Hong Kong between 1868 and 1887 and represented Epsom, Surrey, as Member of Parliament from 1899 and was appointed the county's High Sheriff in 1898.